Musical instrument.



PATENTED JAN. 13, 1903.

P. G. AROHUTE. MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLIUATIFON FILED FEB. 19, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

///III "Hill" f] winntoz H UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL G. ARCHUTE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 718,298, dated January13, 1903- Application filed February 19, 1902. Serial No. 94,773. (Nomodel.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, PAUL G. ARCHUTE, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Musical Instruments, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention consists of an improved stringed instrument, and has forits object to provide a musical instrument combining certain qualitiesof tone and sound of both a banjo and a mandolin, a further object beingthe holding of the bridge firmly in position and the adjustment of thetension of. the head, so as to vary the tone of the instrument.

The invention further consists of the details of constructionhereinafter fully described and claimed.

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a stringed musical instrumentconstructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 represents a centrallongitudinal section thereof. Fig. 3 represents a plan view of a portionof the instrument, the head broken away for convenience of illustration.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the head, and B the hoop, thesame being similar to the corresponding parts of a banjo. The

neck (3 and the finger-board D are similar to the corresponding parts ofa mandolin, while the strings E are strung like those of a mandolin andare connected with the tailpiece F. The outer end of the latter issecured to the outside of the hoop B in the usual manner; but the inneror free end thereof is secured to the cross-bar G of the head, so thatit can be held in the correct position and against movement away fromthe head A to hold the strings firmly upon the bridge H. In theconstruction illustrated said means for holding the free end of thetailpiece consist of a bolt or pin J, passing through the bar G, head A,and tailpiece F, while the nut or thumbpiece K is situated on theoutside of the tailpiece.

I provide means for pressing the bridge H upon the head A, and in theinstance illustrated said means consist of a strand or connected piece Lin the form of a loop that passes through apertures in the head and anaperture in the bridge H and also through an opening M in the bar G andaround the pulley or antifriction-roller N and is then connected with atightening-rod P. The other end of this rod is screw-threaded andengages the thumb-nut Q, mounted upon the hook B, just below the end ofthe tailpiece. A block or enlargement R upon said tightening-rod Pprevents the latter from turning. The lower side of the hoop instead ofbeing open, as usual in a banjo, is closed by a plate or'soundingboardS.

In use the thumb-nut Q is manipulated to cause the desired tension uponthe head A, while the nut K is turned to keep the free end of thetailpiece close to the head and to give the strings the correct anglerelative to the bridge. I have found that with a stringed musicalinstrument of this description the quality of tone is softer than thatof a banjo, while it partakes of the characteristics ofa mandolin withincreased volume.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is v 1. In a musical instrument, a head,abridge upon said head, strings suit-ably secured and resting upon saidbridge, and means independent of the strings for pressing the bridgeupon said head.

2. In a musical instrument, ahead, abridge upon said head, stringssuitably secured and resting upon said bridge, and means independent ofthe strings for holding the bridge under tension against said head.

3. In a musical instrument, a head, abridge upon said head, stringssuitably secured and resting upon said bridge, a connecting-piececonnected with said bridge, and means for exerting a tension upon saidconnecting-piece to hold the bridge against said head.

4:. In a musical instrument, a head, abridge upon said head, stringssuitably secured and resting upon the said bridge, a connectingpiecesecured to said bridge and passing through said head and a tensiondevice connected with said connecting-piece.

5. In a musicalinstrument, a head, a bridge upon said head, stringssuitably secured and resting upon the said bridge, a connectingpiecesecured to said bridge and passing through said head, a tightening-barconnected with said connecting-piece, and a thumbnut connected with saidtightening-bar.

6. In a musical instrument, a head, a bridge upon said head, stringssuitably secured and resting upon the said bridge, a connectingpiecesecured to said bridge, an opening in the shank of the neck of saidinstrument through which said connecting-piece passes, and a tensiondevice connected with said connecting-piece.

7. In a musical instrument, a hoop having a head, a bridge upon saidhead, strings suitably secured and resting upon said bridge, aconnecting-piece secured to said bridge and passing through the head, aplate or sound- PAUL G. AROHUTE.

Witnesses:

JOHN A. WIEDERSHEIM, HARRY COBB KENNEDY.

